8 Genius Backyard Entertaining Ideas You'll Wish You Thought of First

Summer is in the air, and with it comes the joy of basking in the sun, lazy afternoons spent on the porch, and the excitement of throwing backyard soirées with family and friends. Thanks to Pinterest, which just shared its top backyard entertaining ideas for the summer of 2016, throwing an amazing summer party is now easier than ever. Whether your yard is large and spacious or small and cozy, these clever ideas will have you covered all summer long.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Summer Mason Jar Luminaries

Pesky bugs can really put a damper on a beautiful summer day. Instead of waving your hands around all night, create these elegant, chemical free bug repellers, found on A Little Claireification. Using essential oils to fight off mosquitoes, Mason jars are also filled with lemons, limes and rosemary to create a cute but useful decoration. With a floating candle on top, these jars will let you entertain without distraction.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Lawn Twister

Remind your guests of their childhoods by bringing back a classic. This human board game will have friends and family of all ages bending, climbing and falling over. It might cause some grass stains, but it will absolutely bring the laughs. This simple DIY from One Good Thing By Jillee requires only four different colors of spray paint to create. Spray your lawn with rows of circles to make the board as big as you'd like. Ready? Right hand, red!

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Dinner Party

Opt for an elevated picnic with blankets, sheets and pillows for seating, like this one from The Fresh Exchange. Create a standout evening by stringing lights from tree to tree, and ditch the standard table and chairs to create a laid-back, peaceful environment. (Plus, the standout setup means that even if your cooking isn't top notch, no one will notice!)

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Jumbo Jenga

This one's a winner! Everyone loves a good game of Jenga, so why not try a human-size version? Things are sure to get intense and exciting. To make your own set, find scrap wood and saw 54 10.5" pieces. Set it up in your backyard before your event and enlist everyone to play a game as soon as they arrive. Let the crashing begin!

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Movie Night

Perfect for adults, teens and young children, setting up a movie night in your backyard is always a go-to to bring everyone together. Lay out all your chairs and blankets, and have guests bring their own too, then set up a projection screen. But to really make this night a standout, get a popcorn snack bar going. Make a huge batch, place toppings in smaller bowls along the table with tiny scoops (as seen on Family Fresh Meals). Sweet!

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

String Lights Canopy

For a mellow evening with pals, a string light canopy adds a touch of elegance and serenity to the night. You'll be sitting under your own manmade stars, which you can create using a string of lights, a junction box, an outlet box and an outlet cover. Start with two draping strands, and keep going until you reach your own desired pattern of lights. Keep them up all season long! Read more at Studio Grayhouse.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Bru-Bag

This creative game combines two favorites in one. Part cornhole, part beer pong, this mashup game brings everyone together. To play, face two cornhole boards, that are set up like a beer pong table, together. Use bean bags instead of pong balls, and the boards instead of cups, and voilà! This active drinking game requires just a few materials to create and leads to a lightweight design that is easy to transport from yard to yard.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Blanket Tray

Top your backyard party with small, useful details to really stand out. As summer nights can get a little chilly, create a tiny stand with vintage blankets for guests to take when desired. Prop them up on a table and stack each unique quilt in a folded pile. Guests will be so grateful once the breeze hits.

A Part of Hearst Digital Media
Country Living participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.